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If you are still early in your university career (i.e. not about to
graduate in May/June), then you can (following the suggestions of
other techwr-l'ers) try to get internships or similar type work. If you
don't know where to start, you can check with your Career
Development Center. You can also try to get jobs on campus; often
there are jobs on campus that are only for students. Although the
position might not be a "tech. writer" position, it might be one in
which you can do tech. writing (e.g., at a computer help desk, you
could write how-to tips, a newsletter, etc.; as a lab assistant, you
could offer to write the initial draft of lab reports, research findings,
etc.).
If you are about to graduate, (or even if not), you still have options.
For example, in any job that you get, volunteer to write stuff. There
are often newsletters, tip sheets, user guides, etc. that can be
written. Although your title won't be "tech writer", you'll come away
with samples and can show that you have initiative. You can do
tech. writing for volunteer organizations.
My current position is my first full-time tech. writing position, but I
had lots of previous experience. I wrote user guides while working
as a student "intern" in the computer center at university, wrote
addendums to manuals when working as a programmer, initiated a
"tips of the month" newsletter when working at the help desk (back
at university), wrote numerous short "how-to" documents and
reports working full-time at a help desk, finally got a position
working a tech. writer/computer trainer (i.e. 50% writing), and am
now working as a tech. writer. Good luck!
- Michele Marques
mmarques -at- cms400 -dot- com
Date sent: Tue, 11 May 1999 12:27:45 -0700
From: Karen Clark <klclark12 -at- YAHOO -dot- COM>
Subject: <No subject given>
> hello all
>
> I am a university student and I am finding it hard to get a technical
> writing job because i do not have any experience. How am I supposed to
> get experience if nobody will give me a chance? Does anyone have any
> suggestions?
>
> Thanks
>
> Karen
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